Aww no one cares about Squall….*pause* Woohoo! *kicks Squall out of the
fic*
Disclaimer: Torn belongs to Natalie Imbruglia and whoever signed her. FF8 belongs to Squaresoft.
1 Last time, on It's the Sunday Morning After…
"Wha…what can you…? No. Never mind." Tears filled her twin ocean pools as she wheeled around and fled down the hall. She threw herself on the bed in the room she used to share with Seifer and let herself cry for some time before she dared raise her head.
What happened?
*Chapter 6*
Quistis woke up the next morning with only a vague memory of what had gone on the day before. She had a brief image of herself looking for Squall for practically the whole day. Suddenly it came back to her what had happened when she had found him. She'd run off crying, spent the entire evening sobbing in her room and ended up regretting choosing Squall over Seifer. How could she have traded a warm hearth for the cold, frozen Alaskan border?
My whole life is a series of mistakes. Time to set that right.
For what seemed like the hundredth time, Quistis threw her things in a duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder. Packing was like second nature to her now, all her life she'd been shoving her things into cramped spaces for transportation. First from the orphanage, then through a barrage of rooms while she moved up in rank, then into Seifer's room… Seifer. The name brought a curious pang of regret and hopefulness all at the same time. Perhaps it wasn't too late. She left her SeeD uniform crumpled on the floor in favor of jeans and a tee shirt.
"Selphie?" She questioned hopefully, cradling the phone's plastic form on her shoulder. "Selph?"
"Yes? This is she! Irvy! I got a phone call!" A great crash and some choice words from the cowboy filled Quistis's reluctant ear as she winced. "Silly Irvy. Hello? Hello? Who's this? Are you having a party?"
"Selphie, it's Quistis."
"Quisty! Are you having a party? I'm ever so good at arranging these sorts of things and…" Quistis was forced to cut off the bubbly girl's tirade to get a few words in edgewise.
"Do you know where Seifer went exactly?" She blurted, then cursed herself for being such a transparent loser.
"Ohhh good choice, Quisty! I always thought Seifer was sort of a hottie myself and…ow! Irvy! What was that for?"
"Selph? Where he went?"
"Oh! Yes! Umm…I think he mumbled something about a hotel in Dollet. The Grand…Spear? Sphere? I dunno. Something like that. I asked and asked where he was going, I even followed him to the cafeteria and I managed to hear. He was grumbling a lot. Hey! I think he mentioned you a couple times, Quisty! He even…what? Irvy, do you really think I'm going to put out after you hurt me? All I said was Seifer's hot…ow! Stop it! You are so not getting any! I…" At this point Selphie dissolved into giggles, and Quistis thought it best to hang up.
A quick pass by Squall's office showed the lights were on, and someone was home.
Unlike the mind behind the door…thought Quistis maliciously. Hmph…doesn't know what he's missing.
She knocked thrice and called loudly through the door.
"Squall! Just letting you know I'm leaving for a while! I'll be back tonight, possibly tomorrow. I've packed a bag in case. So if you needed me for a mission…too bad!" The door opened a crack and a gray steely eye stared at her.
"Note taken." Before the door closed, Quistis could have sworn she saw a hint of mischief in the eyes of the Commander, but quickly shook it off. Whatever game he was playing at, she didn't want to be a part of it.
I thought I saw a man brought to life
He was warm, he came around like he was dignified
He showed me what it was to cry
The train to Dollet seemed to take years, the stops in between cursed in muttered breaths. Quistis checked her watch twenty, thirty, forty times. Each time it was about a minute or two later than the last peek at her wrist.
Squall disgusted her now. She had come to realize that he would never be the one for her, she couldn't turn her feelings from hot to cold in an instant. First Rinoa, then her. She should have seen it coming. After all, what kind of boyfriend leaves his angelic girlfriend for seemingly no other reason than to shack up with the local blonde? As if she could expect a real relationship from him. Quistis knew that Seifer would be the one who could provide her with something steady and beautiful. But would he want her?
She disgusted herself now. Playing the fickle queen, then relinquishing her choice for the other not two days after driving the latter away. Great start Quistis. The trust he's going to have in you is astonishing. It seemed she couldn't shake the warm feeling in her heart when she looked at Squall, even when she really needed a break it persisted. But unfortunately for all parties involved, it wasn't love, but a leftover crush and deep affection. Now she wasn't even sure if she felt that much for him.
So all Quistis could do was stare out the window and pray Seifer wouldn't think the only reason she was coming back to him was Squall's coldness. Oh she was stupid, for trading the fire for the ice. Fire could burn you up, but ice could only slowly freeze you until everything wonderful was gone.
Well you couldn't be that man I adored
You don't seem to know-or seem to care what your heart is for
I don't know him anymore
A million years seemed to pass before the train finally pulled into the Dollet station. Quistis knew she had some work to do. Selphie's description hadn't been all that helpful. The Grand Sphere? Finding anything grand in Dollet was going to be hard. As she got off the train, hauling her duffel bag on her shoulder, she had a flash of inspiration. Squall! Surely he would know where Seifer had gone. After all he was the Commander, it was his job to know everything.
Ecstatic with her idea, she plunked a handful of change into a pay phone and made the long distance call. Nervousness swept through her all at once. What could she say? Hi Squall, I'm going to try and find your rival because you turned out to be a cold son of a bitch. So basically, you're a mistake. Might you know where Seifer is now?
Quistis let the phone fall into its cradle with a thud just as a formal voice started its opening speech.
There's nothin' where he used to lie
My conversation has run dry
That's what's goin' on
With a heavy sigh, she dropped onto a bench and put her head in her hands. Watching the people stream by was both enlightening and depressing. Enlightening because she saw so many ways of dealing with emotions. Heartfelt reunions and cold receptions; hugs and stiff welcomes. Depressing because not one of them was Seifer. Maybe someday soon she'd be able to show affection, even uneasiness with a situation, without immediately going into Ice Bitch mode.
On impulse, she grabbed the coat sleeve of a dark haired man about her age.
"Excuse me, do you know the hotels in Dollet well?" He smiled at her, a friendly lopsided smile so welcome she found herself smiling in return.
"Yes, I'd like to think I know this town quite well."
"Then maybe you could tell me, my friend he's um…staying here in a place called the Grand Sphere, Seer? Something like that. I can't remember the name. Is there somewhere around here with a name starting with 'The Grand'?"
"Two, actually. The Grand Sphinx and The Grand Sachet. Nice places, they are." Quistis nodded.
"Where are they, about?"
"Well the Sphinx is on Matyr Street and thirty-first and the Sachet is near Mena Avenue and twenty-second."
"Thank you." Said Quistis solemnly. "I really need to find him."
"Good luck to you." Grinned the man, "May he see the light." With a last wink, he was gone, leaving Quistis wondering at his meaning.
Nothing's fine
I'm torn
I'm all out of faith, this is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn
Duffel in hand, she began the long walk to the Sphinx. It was the closest of the two hotels, both of which were quite a distance across town. She cursed herself for not bringing much money for a taxi, Squall usually took care of any monetary needs on missions.
But she was on a personal mission this time, and she cursed herself for depending on another to coordinate the simplest points of her life.
As she was leaving the station, an older woman approached her.
"Drop this, dear?" In her hand she held the SeeD train pass Quistis had used for the trip.
"Oh," she gasped. "Oh, thank you! I don't know what I would have done without it!"
"You would have stayed here with the blonde man, dear. But I'm glad you have it all the same. Now you can both go back."
"Excuse me?"
"The blonde man. Surely you know who you're looking for, dear." The woman said, eyes sparkling with suppressed amusement. Suddenly she frowned. "See what is there child, don't see what you want to see. You saw an enemy when there was love, and a love where there was none. See truth. Live it. Believe it."
"I…I will. Thank you." She looked at the woman oddly before turning away to leave.
"You're quite welcome, dear." Quistis turned to face her again.
"How did you…?" But she was gone.
So I guess the fortune teller's right
I should have seen just what was there and not some Holy light
But you crawled beneath my veins and now I don't care, I have no luck
I don't miss it all that much
There's just so many things
It took Quistis exactly an hour and twenty-seven minutes to reach the Sphinx. When she walked through the swinging double doors, she had less energy than a dead elephant. The walk had been all uphill, a steady, backbreaking incline. She leaned heavily on the counter as she summoned the receptionist.
"Hello! Welcome to the Sphinx! What can I do for you?" Her voice was irritatingly cheery, despite the once over she as giving the tired Quistis.
"I'm looking for a friend."
"Sorry, we don't allow visits for unregistered guests. I encourage not to haunt the hotel, stalkers are also unwelcome."
"No! I…no, you don't understand. I have urgent news for him and if I don't find him…" Quistis let her sentence trail off in the hopes it would sound life threatening. "But first I need to know if he's even staying here." The woman sighed as though she was really wasting her time and produced a log book of guests.
"Name?"
"Seifer. Seifer Almasy." She watched as the woman scrolled her eyes down the page.
"Yes. There is a Seifer Almasy here. Room 326. But you can't…" But Quistis was already gone, the elevator door closing behind her.
That I can't touch
I'm torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn
Torn
The first and second floors passed by excruciatingly slowly, stopping for absurd lengths of time to let on one person. Almost before the doors opened on the third floor, Quistis launched herself into the pristine red and gold hallway. She walked briskly down its carpeted length, stopping for a moment every once and awhile to read the gold letters on the doors. Three fifteen…three twenty…three twenty-five…three twenty-six.
Nervously smoothing her hair away from her eyes, she stared at the smooth white plane of wood in front of her. Seifer was behind that door. And it was ajar, just a little, enough to disengage the lock. With a shaking hand she pushed it open and took two steps into the room.
"Seif…" The name died on her lips as she surveyed the room. The bed, neatly made. The dresser, one drawer open, but empty.
No one.
A choked sob escaped her as she blinked back tears.
There's nothing where he used to lie
My inspiration has run dry
That's what's goin' on
She swiped a dirty hand under her eye and stared without seeing at the perfectly made bed.
"Hasn't it already been established that I'm not there?" With a gasp Quistis turned on her heel and gazed in amazement at the six foot blonde man in front of her.
"You just about gave me a heart attack!" She said, then cursed herself for her stupid remark. "I mean, er, hi?"
Seifer hid his amusement under a serious scowl before he fixed Quistis with a fierce glare.
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you?"
"What are you asking me for, I don't know. Are you or aren't you?"
"I am! I mean, I was, but now I found you and so I don't have to look anymore." She could have cursed herself for not preparing a speech earlier, when she'd had the chance to organize her thoughts. She couldn't think with him so close… And then he took a step closer.
"Quistis, I don't know what to say to you. I wish I could stop being in love with you long enough to call security, because honestly I don't feel like talking to you right now." Quistis looked at her feet.
"I understand."
"No, no you don't. What if I never feel like talking to you? Where's Squall, eh? Cast him aside too now?"
"No! No, nothing like that."
"You're lying. I'm just a temp again until you can find someone better."
"I wouldn't do that to you."
"You already did." She winced visibly and returned her eyes from his to the ground.
"I made a mistake."
"So things didn't work out with Puberty Boy and you just come running back. Great, I…"
"Seifer, I've been alone all my goddamn life. I'm okay with being alone. I can handle it. I'm not so desperate for a boyfriend that I would come running to the second choice when the first wasn't so great." Her voice was dead and empty, and Seifer's face fell just a little. This wasn't in his plan.
"But then…" Quistis cut him off, her voice shaking.
"I came running to who should have been first from the start. I came running to the right one. The only one who makes me feel on top of the world." A lone tear rolled down one cheek as Seifer pulled her into his arms.
"Now didn't I tell you we belonged together?"
"No, you didn't."
"Oh. Well I should have, it might have saved us all a lot of time."
Nothing's right I'm torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I'm ashamed
Bound and broken on the floor
You're a little late I'm already torn
Torn
Oh,
Quistis chuckled lightly and buried her head in Seifer's shoulder. "I forgot how good this felt."
"So much the worse for me."
"Seifer?"
"Mmm?"
"Is this going to last forever?"
"Bit forward, aren't we?"
"Just answer."
"Give me a white horse and a sword and I'll consider it."
"How about a gunblade and a train?"
"Close enough." And he kissed her.
~*~
Squall couldn't wait until Quistis got back. This had to be the greatest piece of acting he'd ever done. He had managed to act so cold he wasn't sure if Quistis even thought they were friends anymore. She was going to be so surprised!
Like a little boy at Christmas he fingered the engagement ring in his palm.
~*~
[guitar solo out]
Oh…
A/N: Aren't I terrible? Poor Squall…what's going to happen when they get back? Wait, I'm not supposed to write thought provoking questions on the last chapter! *zips lip* I know it's the last one, but please review anyway, before I feel unloved
Disclaimer: Torn belongs to Natalie Imbruglia and whoever signed her. FF8 belongs to Squaresoft.
1 Last time, on It's the Sunday Morning After…
"Wha…what can you…? No. Never mind." Tears filled her twin ocean pools as she wheeled around and fled down the hall. She threw herself on the bed in the room she used to share with Seifer and let herself cry for some time before she dared raise her head.
What happened?
*Chapter 6*
Quistis woke up the next morning with only a vague memory of what had gone on the day before. She had a brief image of herself looking for Squall for practically the whole day. Suddenly it came back to her what had happened when she had found him. She'd run off crying, spent the entire evening sobbing in her room and ended up regretting choosing Squall over Seifer. How could she have traded a warm hearth for the cold, frozen Alaskan border?
My whole life is a series of mistakes. Time to set that right.
For what seemed like the hundredth time, Quistis threw her things in a duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder. Packing was like second nature to her now, all her life she'd been shoving her things into cramped spaces for transportation. First from the orphanage, then through a barrage of rooms while she moved up in rank, then into Seifer's room… Seifer. The name brought a curious pang of regret and hopefulness all at the same time. Perhaps it wasn't too late. She left her SeeD uniform crumpled on the floor in favor of jeans and a tee shirt.
"Selphie?" She questioned hopefully, cradling the phone's plastic form on her shoulder. "Selph?"
"Yes? This is she! Irvy! I got a phone call!" A great crash and some choice words from the cowboy filled Quistis's reluctant ear as she winced. "Silly Irvy. Hello? Hello? Who's this? Are you having a party?"
"Selphie, it's Quistis."
"Quisty! Are you having a party? I'm ever so good at arranging these sorts of things and…" Quistis was forced to cut off the bubbly girl's tirade to get a few words in edgewise.
"Do you know where Seifer went exactly?" She blurted, then cursed herself for being such a transparent loser.
"Ohhh good choice, Quisty! I always thought Seifer was sort of a hottie myself and…ow! Irvy! What was that for?"
"Selph? Where he went?"
"Oh! Yes! Umm…I think he mumbled something about a hotel in Dollet. The Grand…Spear? Sphere? I dunno. Something like that. I asked and asked where he was going, I even followed him to the cafeteria and I managed to hear. He was grumbling a lot. Hey! I think he mentioned you a couple times, Quisty! He even…what? Irvy, do you really think I'm going to put out after you hurt me? All I said was Seifer's hot…ow! Stop it! You are so not getting any! I…" At this point Selphie dissolved into giggles, and Quistis thought it best to hang up.
A quick pass by Squall's office showed the lights were on, and someone was home.
Unlike the mind behind the door…thought Quistis maliciously. Hmph…doesn't know what he's missing.
She knocked thrice and called loudly through the door.
"Squall! Just letting you know I'm leaving for a while! I'll be back tonight, possibly tomorrow. I've packed a bag in case. So if you needed me for a mission…too bad!" The door opened a crack and a gray steely eye stared at her.
"Note taken." Before the door closed, Quistis could have sworn she saw a hint of mischief in the eyes of the Commander, but quickly shook it off. Whatever game he was playing at, she didn't want to be a part of it.
I thought I saw a man brought to life
He was warm, he came around like he was dignified
He showed me what it was to cry
The train to Dollet seemed to take years, the stops in between cursed in muttered breaths. Quistis checked her watch twenty, thirty, forty times. Each time it was about a minute or two later than the last peek at her wrist.
Squall disgusted her now. She had come to realize that he would never be the one for her, she couldn't turn her feelings from hot to cold in an instant. First Rinoa, then her. She should have seen it coming. After all, what kind of boyfriend leaves his angelic girlfriend for seemingly no other reason than to shack up with the local blonde? As if she could expect a real relationship from him. Quistis knew that Seifer would be the one who could provide her with something steady and beautiful. But would he want her?
She disgusted herself now. Playing the fickle queen, then relinquishing her choice for the other not two days after driving the latter away. Great start Quistis. The trust he's going to have in you is astonishing. It seemed she couldn't shake the warm feeling in her heart when she looked at Squall, even when she really needed a break it persisted. But unfortunately for all parties involved, it wasn't love, but a leftover crush and deep affection. Now she wasn't even sure if she felt that much for him.
So all Quistis could do was stare out the window and pray Seifer wouldn't think the only reason she was coming back to him was Squall's coldness. Oh she was stupid, for trading the fire for the ice. Fire could burn you up, but ice could only slowly freeze you until everything wonderful was gone.
Well you couldn't be that man I adored
You don't seem to know-or seem to care what your heart is for
I don't know him anymore
A million years seemed to pass before the train finally pulled into the Dollet station. Quistis knew she had some work to do. Selphie's description hadn't been all that helpful. The Grand Sphere? Finding anything grand in Dollet was going to be hard. As she got off the train, hauling her duffel bag on her shoulder, she had a flash of inspiration. Squall! Surely he would know where Seifer had gone. After all he was the Commander, it was his job to know everything.
Ecstatic with her idea, she plunked a handful of change into a pay phone and made the long distance call. Nervousness swept through her all at once. What could she say? Hi Squall, I'm going to try and find your rival because you turned out to be a cold son of a bitch. So basically, you're a mistake. Might you know where Seifer is now?
Quistis let the phone fall into its cradle with a thud just as a formal voice started its opening speech.
There's nothin' where he used to lie
My conversation has run dry
That's what's goin' on
With a heavy sigh, she dropped onto a bench and put her head in her hands. Watching the people stream by was both enlightening and depressing. Enlightening because she saw so many ways of dealing with emotions. Heartfelt reunions and cold receptions; hugs and stiff welcomes. Depressing because not one of them was Seifer. Maybe someday soon she'd be able to show affection, even uneasiness with a situation, without immediately going into Ice Bitch mode.
On impulse, she grabbed the coat sleeve of a dark haired man about her age.
"Excuse me, do you know the hotels in Dollet well?" He smiled at her, a friendly lopsided smile so welcome she found herself smiling in return.
"Yes, I'd like to think I know this town quite well."
"Then maybe you could tell me, my friend he's um…staying here in a place called the Grand Sphere, Seer? Something like that. I can't remember the name. Is there somewhere around here with a name starting with 'The Grand'?"
"Two, actually. The Grand Sphinx and The Grand Sachet. Nice places, they are." Quistis nodded.
"Where are they, about?"
"Well the Sphinx is on Matyr Street and thirty-first and the Sachet is near Mena Avenue and twenty-second."
"Thank you." Said Quistis solemnly. "I really need to find him."
"Good luck to you." Grinned the man, "May he see the light." With a last wink, he was gone, leaving Quistis wondering at his meaning.
Nothing's fine
I'm torn
I'm all out of faith, this is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn
Duffel in hand, she began the long walk to the Sphinx. It was the closest of the two hotels, both of which were quite a distance across town. She cursed herself for not bringing much money for a taxi, Squall usually took care of any monetary needs on missions.
But she was on a personal mission this time, and she cursed herself for depending on another to coordinate the simplest points of her life.
As she was leaving the station, an older woman approached her.
"Drop this, dear?" In her hand she held the SeeD train pass Quistis had used for the trip.
"Oh," she gasped. "Oh, thank you! I don't know what I would have done without it!"
"You would have stayed here with the blonde man, dear. But I'm glad you have it all the same. Now you can both go back."
"Excuse me?"
"The blonde man. Surely you know who you're looking for, dear." The woman said, eyes sparkling with suppressed amusement. Suddenly she frowned. "See what is there child, don't see what you want to see. You saw an enemy when there was love, and a love where there was none. See truth. Live it. Believe it."
"I…I will. Thank you." She looked at the woman oddly before turning away to leave.
"You're quite welcome, dear." Quistis turned to face her again.
"How did you…?" But she was gone.
So I guess the fortune teller's right
I should have seen just what was there and not some Holy light
But you crawled beneath my veins and now I don't care, I have no luck
I don't miss it all that much
There's just so many things
It took Quistis exactly an hour and twenty-seven minutes to reach the Sphinx. When she walked through the swinging double doors, she had less energy than a dead elephant. The walk had been all uphill, a steady, backbreaking incline. She leaned heavily on the counter as she summoned the receptionist.
"Hello! Welcome to the Sphinx! What can I do for you?" Her voice was irritatingly cheery, despite the once over she as giving the tired Quistis.
"I'm looking for a friend."
"Sorry, we don't allow visits for unregistered guests. I encourage not to haunt the hotel, stalkers are also unwelcome."
"No! I…no, you don't understand. I have urgent news for him and if I don't find him…" Quistis let her sentence trail off in the hopes it would sound life threatening. "But first I need to know if he's even staying here." The woman sighed as though she was really wasting her time and produced a log book of guests.
"Name?"
"Seifer. Seifer Almasy." She watched as the woman scrolled her eyes down the page.
"Yes. There is a Seifer Almasy here. Room 326. But you can't…" But Quistis was already gone, the elevator door closing behind her.
That I can't touch
I'm torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
You're a little late
I'm already torn
Torn
The first and second floors passed by excruciatingly slowly, stopping for absurd lengths of time to let on one person. Almost before the doors opened on the third floor, Quistis launched herself into the pristine red and gold hallway. She walked briskly down its carpeted length, stopping for a moment every once and awhile to read the gold letters on the doors. Three fifteen…three twenty…three twenty-five…three twenty-six.
Nervously smoothing her hair away from her eyes, she stared at the smooth white plane of wood in front of her. Seifer was behind that door. And it was ajar, just a little, enough to disengage the lock. With a shaking hand she pushed it open and took two steps into the room.
"Seif…" The name died on her lips as she surveyed the room. The bed, neatly made. The dresser, one drawer open, but empty.
No one.
A choked sob escaped her as she blinked back tears.
There's nothing where he used to lie
My inspiration has run dry
That's what's goin' on
She swiped a dirty hand under her eye and stared without seeing at the perfectly made bed.
"Hasn't it already been established that I'm not there?" With a gasp Quistis turned on her heel and gazed in amazement at the six foot blonde man in front of her.
"You just about gave me a heart attack!" She said, then cursed herself for her stupid remark. "I mean, er, hi?"
Seifer hid his amusement under a serious scowl before he fixed Quistis with a fierce glare.
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you?"
"What are you asking me for, I don't know. Are you or aren't you?"
"I am! I mean, I was, but now I found you and so I don't have to look anymore." She could have cursed herself for not preparing a speech earlier, when she'd had the chance to organize her thoughts. She couldn't think with him so close… And then he took a step closer.
"Quistis, I don't know what to say to you. I wish I could stop being in love with you long enough to call security, because honestly I don't feel like talking to you right now." Quistis looked at her feet.
"I understand."
"No, no you don't. What if I never feel like talking to you? Where's Squall, eh? Cast him aside too now?"
"No! No, nothing like that."
"You're lying. I'm just a temp again until you can find someone better."
"I wouldn't do that to you."
"You already did." She winced visibly and returned her eyes from his to the ground.
"I made a mistake."
"So things didn't work out with Puberty Boy and you just come running back. Great, I…"
"Seifer, I've been alone all my goddamn life. I'm okay with being alone. I can handle it. I'm not so desperate for a boyfriend that I would come running to the second choice when the first wasn't so great." Her voice was dead and empty, and Seifer's face fell just a little. This wasn't in his plan.
"But then…" Quistis cut him off, her voice shaking.
"I came running to who should have been first from the start. I came running to the right one. The only one who makes me feel on top of the world." A lone tear rolled down one cheek as Seifer pulled her into his arms.
"Now didn't I tell you we belonged together?"
"No, you didn't."
"Oh. Well I should have, it might have saved us all a lot of time."
Nothing's right I'm torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I'm ashamed
Bound and broken on the floor
You're a little late I'm already torn
Torn
Oh,
Quistis chuckled lightly and buried her head in Seifer's shoulder. "I forgot how good this felt."
"So much the worse for me."
"Seifer?"
"Mmm?"
"Is this going to last forever?"
"Bit forward, aren't we?"
"Just answer."
"Give me a white horse and a sword and I'll consider it."
"How about a gunblade and a train?"
"Close enough." And he kissed her.
~*~
Squall couldn't wait until Quistis got back. This had to be the greatest piece of acting he'd ever done. He had managed to act so cold he wasn't sure if Quistis even thought they were friends anymore. She was going to be so surprised!
Like a little boy at Christmas he fingered the engagement ring in his palm.
~*~
[guitar solo out]
Oh…
A/N: Aren't I terrible? Poor Squall…what's going to happen when they get back? Wait, I'm not supposed to write thought provoking questions on the last chapter! *zips lip* I know it's the last one, but please review anyway, before I feel unloved